Russell Indexes introduced its Russell High Efficiency Defensive Indexes, intended to help investors identify high-quality, low-volatility stocks using a “stability score” that is generated using various economic and market risk factors.

Several exchanges admitted new members: BNP Paribas Securities Services joined Singapore Exchange as a clearing member, bringing the number of clearing members in the securities market to 27. The Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange accepted Marex Spectron Group as a broker clearing member, and Banco Santander joined European Commodity Clearing as a general clearing member.

Trading Technologies International Inc. launched its MultiBroker ASP solution, designed to allow traders to enter orders from an X_TRADER workstation or API and send them to any participating brokers using a direct market access network.

Markit plans to integrate Selerity’s dividend event data into its Markit Dividend product platform, in order to identify key dividend announcements from U.S. companies in real-time.

ConvergEx Holdings signed a definitive agreement to sell Eze Castle Software and RealTick to an affiliate of private investment firm TPG Capital.

Borsa Italiana launched AGREX, the first European derivatives market for Durum wheat.

NASDAQ OMX Commodities introduced German power futures, European-style options for German power forwards and futures, Swedish Norwegian electricity certificates and European Union aviation allowances futures. It also extended the German and Nordic power forward curves.

TD Ameritrade introduced a new “Strategy Roller” feature to its thinkorswim trading platform. The tool is designed to allow retail traders to roll their existing option positions automatically based upon their own user-defined settings.

CME will offer palladium and platinum options on its Globex trading platform starting on Feb. 24.

Nasdaq has entered into a partnership with Deutsche Bank and Imarex FS, designed to offer market participants access to an integrated trading and clearing service to FX products. Clients of the Nasdaq OMX’s Norwegian clearing house, NOS, will be able to trade FX products through Deutsche Bank’s FX trading platform.

Thomson Reuters enhanced its FX matching platform designed to boost capacity, scalability and performance. New features include a graphical user interface and click to trade capability.